Signal lamp



March 6,1926, 1,661,421

R. J. GASKILL SIGNAL LAMP Originql Filed N6v. 15, 1924 INVEN TOR.

} 7ft 176466-11 j BY PM 24 21% ATTORNEY.

i 2 panying drawings in which Patented Mar. 6, 1928.

j UN TED STATES 1,661,421 PATENT omen:

ROBERT J. easxrnn, or roar WA NE, INDIANA, Assrenon 2150 THE eAMnwnnI. COM- PANY, OF NEWTON, MASSACHUSETTS,

SIGNAL A CORPORATION or MASSACHUSETTS.

LAMP.

Application ma November 15, 1924, swarm. 750,037.. RenewedmJ'anuarj 12 1928.

The invention relates to lamps and particnlarly to electric signal lamps.

It'is desirable where signal lamps are 1n use to soarrange thelamp that its interior may be readily accessible without removing or disturbing the lens. At the same t me it is desirable that the lamp may be tlghtly closed against the elements and dirt.

The object of the inventionis to prov de in a lamp wherein the lens is continuously supported in the lamp frame, yet readily removable therefrom when desirable, the frame having means affording access to the interiorjof the lens for cleansing it .or for renewal or adjustment of the incandescent lamp.

Other objects will appear hereinafter. I The invention consists of a canopy or cap and ring detachably. connected together in novel manner with a cylindrical lens clamped between them, the base ring affording access to the interior thereof and normally closed in novel manner. The invention is illustrated in the accom- Figure; 1 is an elevational view of the "lamp, partly in section; Fig. 2 a bottom plan view, of the canopy; Figs. 3 and 4 detail views of the supports in the canopy for the clamping or tie bolts; Fig. 5 a plan view of the ring; Figs 6 a central cross-sectional view of the ring; Fig. 7 a detail view of the lock for the closure ofthe ring and Fig.8 an elevational view of the canopy illustrating the socket for the incandescent lamp in inverted position. i

In the illustrative embodiment of the invention, 1 is the canopy orcap. It is pref erably conical in shape and hollow. The

peak of thecanopy is apertured and inter nally threaded as at2 for attachment to a conduit or bracket bywhich the lamp is supported orrsuspended. The service wires enterv through this aperture and are connectedto the'usual terminals of an incandescent lampsocket 3.

Thesocket 3 is formed in two sections, one

of which threads into the other, and which clamp between them the ofiset central ap- ,ertured portion 4 of a plate 5. Each end of the plate is slottedat 6, the central portion of each'slot being. enlarged in order that the screws 7 engaged in the canopy '1 and then rotated in either direction tocause one turned the bulb is centered in the vertical end of each slot to receive one of the screws.

The screws are then tightened and the plate is held firmly in position. As shown in Fig. 1 the offset portion of the plate projects downwardly-,thereby enabling ashort in candescent lamp to. be u'sedand as'sureits centering withrespect to the cylindrical lens 8. WVhen a longer lamp is used the plate is inverted as shown in Fig. 8. Thus two lengths of incandescent lamps maybeused and assure that the filament in either case will lie in the center of the'bulls eye-section 2 8 of the lens.- Since the slot in each end of the plate 6 extends upon opposite sides of the-central enlarged portion of said slot,* theplatemay be turned in either direction to engage under the headsofthe screws according to whet-herthe ofl'set portion 4 projects upwardly or downwardly, andw-hen so axis of the lens. j

1 An annular recess 9-is formed in the lower edge of the canopy for the reception of a gasket 10 preferably formed of rubber, and upon which gasket the HPPBPBHCl of the lens 8 engages. r

At selected points on the inner periphery of the canopy 1 are formed the bifurcated lugs 11, the free end of each arm of each lug having an upstanding extension 12. Above each lug the inner wall of the canopy slopes inwardly and" upwardly rather sharply. This inclination may be formed in suitable manner, as by the lugs. 13. The lug 13. is shorter than the arms of thelug 11 beneath ;it soas to leave a small space between its outer end and the upper ends o'f'the extensions 12 to permitthe bolts I lto be withhead thereof prevents rotationof the same in the slot. To withdraw the bolt from the lug 11 itis necessary to incline it and pass the head over the upper ends of theextensions 12 as shown in Fig. 3; -When the bolts depend trom the lugs-11 they cannot disengage therefrom since their heads are below and. relatively close 'to the inclined lower faces of the lugs 13 and will abut the the plate maybe passed over the heads of...

same if the bolts are elevated. The extens1ons'12 prevent any lateral disengaging lower ends of the bolts are extended through apertures formed in the base 15.

The ring has the annular seats 16 and 17 formed on the upper and lower surfaces of its outer annular portion. A gasket 18 is engaged on the seat 16 and the lower end of the lens 8 engages the gasket when the nuts 19 are drawn up on the bolts 141 toclamp the lens rigidly between the canopy and the ring. There is sufficient play of the belts in the lugs 11 to permit of the centering of the ringon the lens with the flange 15 projecting into the lens.

A gasket 20 is engaged on the'se'at 17 and is normally engaged by the upper edge of an annular flange 21 formed on'the cover plate 22, having a downwardly projecting rib orother member 2301] its outer face to facilitate the rotation of the coverin locking and unlocking it to'and from the ring.

The lock for the cover comprises a bar 21 normally held on two lugs 25 by the conically coiled springs 26, the upper ends of the springs having engagement with the heads of the screws or posts .27 connected to or projecting upwardly from the lugs. The'bar 2% is loose on the'scre'ws 27 and the under side of each end of the bar is bevelled or rounded 05, the thin edge at one end of the bar being on the opposite side edge of the bar relatively to the thin edge at the opposite end of the bar. A cam is therefore formed at each end of the barand itis adapted to engage a'cam 28 formed on the top side of a 111 :29 that'pi'ojects from the inner peripheral wall of the ring.

lVhen the cover is to be attached to the ring it is so placed up against the lower side of the same that the bar 24 will pass into the cavity'of the ring. The cover is then rotated in proper direction to cause the ends of the bar to climb up on the lugs 29, the movement being'continued until the bar meets abut-ments such as the adjacent lugs 30 through which two of the bolts 1% pass. The springs 26 exert a pressure on the bar and hold it firmly on the lugs 29 so that the cover is firmly locked to the ring, yet it is-readily removable by rotating it in the opposite direction.

\Vhat I elaim'is:

1. A signal lamp comprising a hollow canopy, a bottom member, a cylindrical lens between the canopy and the bottom member, a plurality of bifurcated lugs radiating from the inner wall of the canopy, the said inner wall adjacent the upper side of the slotted lugs being inclined upwardly and inwardly, an extension at the outer end of each bifurcation which projects toward the said inclined wall but is spaced therefrom, a plurality of bolts adapted to be inserted into the slots otthe lugs respectively to cause their heads to engage the top side of the lugs upon opposite sides of the slots canopy,

therein, the spacing between the inclined wall of the canopy and the upper ends of each pair of said extensions being such that the head of the bolt will pass through the same only when the bolt is inclined, the said wall also preventing vertical movement of the bolts when they are suspended on the lugs, the said bolts being extended through the interior of the lens and through the base, and means on the bolts to clamp the canopy and the bottom member upon opposite ends'ot' the lens.

A signal lamp comprising a hollow a ring, a cylindrical lens between the canopy and the ring,a plurality o f'bolts suspended from the inner wall of the canopy for universal movement. thereon and attended through the interior of the lens and throughthe ring, means on the canopy to prevent vertical movement of the bolts, means on the bolt suspending means to prevent in 'ard lateral movement of the top of the bolts, means onthe bolts to clamp the canopy and the base upon opposite ends of the lens, a cover for the bottom face of the base and cooperating means onthe ringantl the cover for releasably locking the core! to the ring.

3. A signal lamp comprising a canopy, a cylindrical lens, a bottom member having a central opening therein, a plurality ot' bolts releasably suspended from the canopy and extended through the interior of the lens and through the bottom member, nuts on the bolts to clamp the canopy and the bottom member uponopposit'e ends'ofthe lens, a plurality of cams on the bottom member adjacent the said opening, a cover torthe bottom side of the bottom member for covering the said nuts and said'opening, a member mounted on the cover "for movement toward and fromfthe same, and resilient means "tending to retain the said member in contact with the cover, the said member being adapted to engage'thecams whenthe cover is rotated for lockingthe cover to the bottom member.

at. A signal lamp comprising a hollow canopy, a bottom member, a cylindrical lens between the canopy and the bottom n'iemher, a pluralityof bifurcated lugs formed onthe inner wall ofthe canopy, a plurality of bolts removably suspended on the lugs respectively and extending within the lens and through the bottom member, means on the lugs to prevent unintentional lateral movement of the heads of the bolts thereon, means adjacentto the heads of the bolts to oppose upward longitudinal movement of the bolts and means onthe bolts to clamp the canopy andbottom member upon the lens.

5. A signal lamp comprising a canopy, a lens, a bottom member having a central opening therein, means carried by the c'anopy and engaged to the bottom member for securing the canopy and the bottom memher on the lens, a'plurality of cams on the bottom member adjacent the said opening,

' a cover for the bottom side of the bottom member, amember mounted on the cover for movement toward and from the same, and means opposmg one of said movements of said member, the said member being adapted to engage the cams when the cover is rotated for locking the cover to the bottom member.

In witness whereof I have hereunto e this 8th day of November,

ROBERT J. GASKILL; 

